Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-02-25
The Dependent Pension Bill.


kindn were to be supported by the govern
ment, was finally killed, not receiving tie
constitutional majority in the House of Rep
-esentatiyes, to pass it over the veto OF the
President. In the course of the debate upon
the bill Mr.. Bragg, ofWiscopsin, said thatthe
time had arrived when the pension question
should receive more than casual consider
alton. 1t was time for the members OF the
House to get out from the roseate bubble IN
which they lived in Washington, prepared
for them by claim agents, and look after the
interests of the real soldier and the business
interests of the country. They had drltted
along, impelled by species of sympathetic
impulse, regardless of reason or Judgment,
until the period was reached which culml-
mated in the presentation and passage
of one of the most scandalous bills
which had ever been sent to President
for his signature. The people of the
country, without regard to party, had
every reason to be thankful that this bill
had been presented to an executive who had
backbone enough to meet the situation. In
few years the soldiers of the country (not
the bummers) would have arrived at an age
| when they could come to Congress and de-
mand as right, not ask as charity, that
provision be made for them. Let not Con-
gress bankrupt the Treasury before that
time arrived by yielding to the demands of
deserters, coffee.coolers and bounty-Jump-
ers 1t had been charged that he was not
friend of the soldier. To that he replied
that no man who had served with his troops
in the field for four years, who had followed
the starry flag in fifty or sixty pitched bat
| Il,
class of soldiers that he stood here to defend
against the imputation cast upon them
by the passage ola pauper pension bill. The
men who advocated this bill were not the
friends ofthe true soldier. They advocated
this bill-mapy ofthem-why? Simply be-
cause the men could vote whom they ex-
pected to buy by this bill.
Mr.. Henderson, Ia.)-"For one | pro-
nounce that false" Applause on the re-
publican side and in the galleries.
Mr.. Bragg.--"I say that this is the sub
stratum upon which all this action is based.
If these men whom they call paupers were
to call upon them individually for aid, they
would say TO them. You good for nothing
sconndres; you are as competent to work
as we are'" Laughter and applause on
the republican side.
Mr.. Bragg then proceeded to analyze the
bill and point out what he regarded as its
vitality evil features. 1t would, he said,
grant pensions to the men who had served
from December, 1864, to June, 1865. Who
were those men? They were the scum of the
earth. They were the scumage aud the
drugs They stayed in their homes until
they were bought-bought by men who
specuated in blood-paid from 500 to $500
with the private assurance that they were
physically so defective that all they had to
| do was to go to the hospital and not endan'
ger their precious carcasses. Gentlemen
talked about soldiers being in almshouses
The men who were found there were the
men who had come from them, and when
they left the army had lapsed into their old
condition No true brave soldier need ever
20 to the poorhouse. The men who went
there were native there. They had no self
respect, no character; they lay down and
opened their mouths for teat to suck. He
knew gentlemen who had committed them
selves day after day in opposition to the
principle of the bill and were grateful for
the Veto Cries of "Who are they ?" II
heard them" Repeated cries of "Name
them,n "Name your man." "You can't do
it," and much noise and confusion.
1.-THE republican Congressman, all OF
them," was Mr.. Bragg's reply, which was
greeted with mingled applause, laughter
and jeers.
Mr.. Bragg declared that the press of the
country was opposed to the bill. That gal
liant soldier, the Governor of Maine, Cham
berlain, stood by the President.
Eyes, cried Mr.. Boutelle, land he stands
alone in Maine. Applause on the repub.
lican SIDE speak for Maine" Jeers on
the democratic side, and cries of "Sorry for
Maine"
Mr.. Bragg, continuing 1.-THE great SOL
der, Palmer, of Illinois, stood by the Pres
ident. Gov. Cox, of Ohio, stood by the
President. Old Dan Sicklos, of the Third
Army Corps, said that the veto was most
glorious deed. Brave men of all parties
stood by the President"
MIR. Henderson, Iowa, contemptuously.-
"You stand by the PRESIDENT"
Mr.. Bragg-"No staff commissary can
ever excite me. l am speaking for what |
consider the soldiers interest The largest
Grand Army post in my State yesterday
voted not to ask members of Congress to go
against the President. 1t is only the class
of gentlemen who hang around the Grand
Army posts, who crowd themselves in to
get So week and to live upon their com.
| radeS, who are making this grand nue. ana
cry The soldier prefers to stand by his
record, and asks not that Congress shall
mark him as beggar. He wants to have
it understood that he is, in private life az
he was in the army, soldier, fighting for
tto maintenance of the Union, loving his
country, and not asking to be supported by
it. Why, look at the effect. The Coincide
rate soldiers without hope are toiling day
by day and exhibiting thrift, industry and
energy never expected of them, while the
Northern man, the Independent, the self
reliant, the industrious, the energetic and
ness. Why? Because he is waiting for
his stipend to come from tho government,
and when that stipend comes it iC spent
quickly, and if he comes from poorhouse
be lepses into that position and waits for
another stipend. Humanity only needs to
be encouraged to do nothing. We are all
A